Dan Rafael: Amir Khan
Imagine demanding that your city add a stop sign on your corner and then, after local officials relent, blowing through the intersection at your first opportunity. A weak analogy, perhaps, but you get the idea why ESPN.com's Dan Rafael is so confounded by Lamont Peterson and Andre Berto, who sought random drug testing ahead of their recent scheduled bouts and then proceeded to get popped for banned substances. For more on Rafael's thoughts on performance enhancers and drug testing in boxing, check out the clip above.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesMarcos Maidana, right, says he'd welcome the chance at an Amir Khan rematch -- but not on July 7.Maidana moved up to welterweight for the fight, as did Alexander, and was toyed with. Now back at junior welterweight to defend his belt, Maidana (31-3, 28 KOs), the big puncher from Argentina, has been in Oxnard, Calif., working with new trainer Robert Garcia and looking forward to a return to action later this summer against an opponent to be determined.
"I've felt very good in my first week training with my new team," Maidana said through translator (and adviser) Sebastian Contursi. "There are great fighters and a great atmosphere around here. Obviously, it will take me some time to adjust and get [into] great physical condition, but we'll get there with hard work."
When Andre Berto failed a drug test and was bounced from his June 23 welterweight rematch with Victor Ortiz, Maidana's name was at the top of the list as a possible replacement, according to Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer. Maidana, after all, made Ortiz quit in the sixth round of a sensational, knockdown-filled junior welterweight brawl in June 2009.
Golden Boy and Showtime are keeping the show in place, but Berto has been replaced by Josesito Lopez. With Maidana only a week into his new training camp, he said he wouldn't have had enough time to get ready for the date.
"The news caught me by surprise, of course," Maidana said. "My advisor, Sebastian Contursi, let me know that Golden Boy Promotions asked him whether it was possible for me to be ready for June 23. But, of course, I cannot do it in only five weeks. It's a shame that the time frame does not fit, as I would've loved to face Ortiz again.
"I know this is the second postponement [of the Berto fight] for Victor, and I feel bad for him. Maybe if Golden Boy Promotions can secure a new date, then we could talk about the rematch, because I know people want it."
Former junior welterweight Amir Khan is also looking for a new opponent after the cancellation of his May 19 fight against titleholder Lamont Peterson, who also flunked a random urine test. Maidana pushed Khan to the limit in a December 2010 title bout before losing a decision in a fight that was voted fight of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Khan likely will fight a new opponent on his rescheduled date of July 7, and Maidana's name has been raised for that spot, too.
"That's another rematch that I'd love to take," Maidana said. "Everybody knows that I've been asking to face Amir again, for more than a year now. But again, time-wise it does not work, as apparently Khan needs to fight on July 7. In any case, if either Ortiz or Khan are willing to fight me, I'll be ready for any of them by the end of July. I know Amir Khan is looking for his former belts to be given back to him after the Peterson case. If he wants a belt, let's move his date two or three weeks and try to get it from me in the ring."
Many suggested that because Khan and Ortiz were both looking for new opponents that they ought to have faced each other. Great fight, but it wasn't going to happen, at least not in their next bouts. Ortiz is locked into Showtime for the June 23 date. Khan, who has said quite clearly that he is planning for his next fight to be at junior welterweight before moving up in weight, is under contract to HBO. That rendered the possibility of an Ortiz-Khan fight this summer impossible.
Besides, even if they were free, it would make absolutely zero business sense for Golden Boy. Each date is worth seven figures, so why in the world would Golden Boy give up one of them?
In the immediate aftermath of the Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan junior welterweight title rematch being canceled on Wednesday because of Peterson's failed drug test, his team didn't have much to say.
In fact, numerous emails and phone calls went unreturned. I would imagine Peterson's people were trying to collect their thoughts and figure out what to say and how to explain why, during a random urine test conducted on March 19 in Los Angeles, Peterson (who had asked Khan to undergo random testing during the buildup to their fight) tested positive for synthetic testosterone.
That is a banned substance in Nevada, where the major HBO bout was scheduled to take place on May 19.
The results of the test came to light just this week, and with Peterson unlikely to be licensed in Nevada -- where these results are taken very seriously -- Golden Boy Promotions canceled the show. It was just too close to the fight to go through with a hearing early next week when Peterson was almost certainly going to be denied a license anyway.
Even though Peterson said the reason he took the synthetic testosterone was because of a legitimate medical issue -- abnormally low testosterone -- he and his team missed the point: Taking a banned substance is not allowed. And if you do take it for a legitimate medical reason, it is incumbent on the athlete to disclose that to the Nevada commission and attempt to obtain a medical exemption. Period, no exceptions. Peterson didn't do that, either. In other words, it's like closing the barn door after the horse has run away.
On Thursday morning, the Peterson camp finally released a statement regarding the cancellation of the fight.
You can read the full statement below, although I will take issue with one point it makes: that Peterson has never failed a drug test in his 18 years of boxing. Well, that's not true.
He did flunk a drug test on March 19, and that is the reason the fight is canceled. Here's the full statement:
"Team Peterson is very disappointed and distraught by the decision to cancel the May 19 rematch against Amir Khan. This is an extremely difficult decision to accept. We have always taken the position of providing factual information rather than responding emotionally to rumors and innuendoes. We did everything that was asked of us in efforts to comply.
"To support our stance we provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission with a significant amount of factual medical data in response to these allegations. Lamont did a battery of test this week and saw a number of independent board certified physicians. They all had the exact same conclusion as the doctor that initially treated and diagnosed Lamont's medical condition. It began as a confidential medical matter between a patient and his physician. Unfortunately, it has now become a public issue in efforts to clear the name and reputation of this young man.
"As a condition for this rematch, Lamont demanded that Olympic-style random drug testing be implemented. He has been a true advocate for making boxing drug-free and fair. In his 18-year career (10 amateur and eight professional) Lamont Peterson has never failed a drug test and has always complied with the rules beyond this isolated and explainable occurrence.
"We still stand behind the fact that he did nothing wrong and he was more than ready to go through with the May 19 fight. He is a man of tremendous character and will. His work ethic is second to none, and in every sense of the word he is a true champion, in life, as well as in the ring.
"We will vigorously pursue the truth with regards to this matter and continue to fight to protect this young man's character, credibility and all he has accomplished. Once all the facts have been reviewed we have no doubt that he will be vindicated."
In fact, numerous emails and phone calls went unreturned. I would imagine Peterson's people were trying to collect their thoughts and figure out what to say and how to explain why, during a random urine test conducted on March 19 in Los Angeles, Peterson (who had asked Khan to undergo random testing during the buildup to their fight) tested positive for synthetic testosterone.
That is a banned substance in Nevada, where the major HBO bout was scheduled to take place on May 19.
The results of the test came to light just this week, and with Peterson unlikely to be licensed in Nevada -- where these results are taken very seriously -- Golden Boy Promotions canceled the show. It was just too close to the fight to go through with a hearing early next week when Peterson was almost certainly going to be denied a license anyway.
Even though Peterson said the reason he took the synthetic testosterone was because of a legitimate medical issue -- abnormally low testosterone -- he and his team missed the point: Taking a banned substance is not allowed. And if you do take it for a legitimate medical reason, it is incumbent on the athlete to disclose that to the Nevada commission and attempt to obtain a medical exemption. Period, no exceptions. Peterson didn't do that, either. In other words, it's like closing the barn door after the horse has run away.
On Thursday morning, the Peterson camp finally released a statement regarding the cancellation of the fight.
You can read the full statement below, although I will take issue with one point it makes: that Peterson has never failed a drug test in his 18 years of boxing. Well, that's not true.
He did flunk a drug test on March 19, and that is the reason the fight is canceled. Here's the full statement:
"Team Peterson is very disappointed and distraught by the decision to cancel the May 19 rematch against Amir Khan. This is an extremely difficult decision to accept. We have always taken the position of providing factual information rather than responding emotionally to rumors and innuendoes. We did everything that was asked of us in efforts to comply.
"To support our stance we provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission with a significant amount of factual medical data in response to these allegations. Lamont did a battery of test this week and saw a number of independent board certified physicians. They all had the exact same conclusion as the doctor that initially treated and diagnosed Lamont's medical condition. It began as a confidential medical matter between a patient and his physician. Unfortunately, it has now become a public issue in efforts to clear the name and reputation of this young man.
"As a condition for this rematch, Lamont demanded that Olympic-style random drug testing be implemented. He has been a true advocate for making boxing drug-free and fair. In his 18-year career (10 amateur and eight professional) Lamont Peterson has never failed a drug test and has always complied with the rules beyond this isolated and explainable occurrence.
"We still stand behind the fact that he did nothing wrong and he was more than ready to go through with the May 19 fight. He is a man of tremendous character and will. His work ethic is second to none, and in every sense of the word he is a true champion, in life, as well as in the ring.
"We will vigorously pursue the truth with regards to this matter and continue to fight to protect this young man's character, credibility and all he has accomplished. Once all the facts have been reviewed we have no doubt that he will be vindicated."
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission appointed officials for three major upcoming world title fights that will take place in Las Vegas.
Assignments were given out for the two junior middleweight title fights at the MGM Grand on May 5, Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez-Shane Mosley, as well as the rematch between junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson and former titleholder Amir Khan, who meet May 19 at Mandalay Bay.
Mayweather-Cotto: referee Tony Weeks and judges Robert Hoyle, Patricia Morse Jarman and Dave Moretti.
Alvarez-Mosley: referee Jay Nady and judges C.J. Ross, Glenn Trowbridge and Jesse Reyes.
Peterson-Khan II: referee Kenny Bayless and judges Adalaide Byrd, Burt Clements, Duane Ford.
Assignments were given out for the two junior middleweight title fights at the MGM Grand on May 5, Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez-Shane Mosley, as well as the rematch between junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson and former titleholder Amir Khan, who meet May 19 at Mandalay Bay.
Mayweather-Cotto: referee Tony Weeks and judges Robert Hoyle, Patricia Morse Jarman and Dave Moretti.
Alvarez-Mosley: referee Jay Nady and judges C.J. Ross, Glenn Trowbridge and Jesse Reyes.
Peterson-Khan II: referee Kenny Bayless and judges Adalaide Byrd, Burt Clements, Duane Ford.
Mosley in the mix for 'Canelo' and Khan?
January, 26, 2012
Jan 26
11:06
AM ET
By
Dan Rafael | ESPN.com
Shane Mosley, the former pound-for-pound king and three-division champion, is 40 now. He is 2-3-1 in his previous six fights, and he has looked particularly poor in going 0-2-1 in his past three since his upset knockout of plaster-less Antonio Margarito in 2009.
The last time we saw Mosley, he was knocked down in the third round and lost a shutout decision to Manny Pacquiao in their massively hyped -- and even more disappointing -- welterweight title bout last May.
Since then, Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) has kept a low profile. But now he says he is ready to return, that he is healthy and that his manager, James Prince, and attorney, Josh Dubin, have been approached by Golden Boy -- the fighter's former promoter before their falling out prior to rival Top Rank signing Mosley for the Pacquiao fight -- to gauge his interest in two potential bouts.
I talked to Mosley the other day, and he said he was asked a couple of weeks ago about his interest in a fight with junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who holds one of Mosley's old belts. In recent days, Mosley said, he was asked about his interest in facing former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan.
"They offered me a fight with Canelo and I was like, 'Yeah, I'll take it,'" Mosley said. "Then they came back to me and said, 'What about Amir Khan?'"
Mosley said that fight was also of interest to him, although not at the weight that was suggested: 145 pounds.
Khan, who lost his two junior welterweight belts to Lamont Peterson in controversial fashion on Dec. 10, wants a rematch first and foremost. But Golden Boy knows there are issues there and is looking ahead because Khan had talked before the Peterson fight about moving up anyway.
"I said, 'No way at 145.' I might do it if it was at 147. I was thinking 149 or 150," Mosley said. "It's possible, but I would want to be sure everything is right. It's interesting, but it depends on the setting, the weight, what type of money."
Of the two names brought to Mosley's attention, he said he prefers Alvarez, who has been mentioned prominently as a potential May 5 opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who soundly outpointed Mosley in May 2010.
With Mayweather and Pacquiao trying to finalize opponents, because it seems very doubtful they will fight each other next, everyone else in the hunt is jockeying for position, including Mosley.
"I haven't fought in a while and would have to make weight properly if I was going to fight Khan," Mosley said, adding that he weighed about 168 when we spoke a few days ago. "Now that I am healed properly, I can get back to work again."
Mosley said he injured the Achilles tendon in his left foot several weeks before the Pacquiao fight and that it hindered him badly in the fight. He said he had issues with his other leg also. The injuries have taken some time to heal, but he said he would be ready for a fight in the spring, which is when Alvarez and Khan are both expected back in action.
"I wanted to take some time off and heal properly," Mosley said. "I'm feeling a lot better and ready to go. I'm not hurt. If Golden Boy is willing to put their guy, Canelo or Amir, up to fight me, so be it. I'm excited to get back in the ring. I want to prove to everybody what happens when I am 100 percent."
I don't see the Khan fight happening and remain hopeful a rematch with Peterson will come to fruition. It makes too much (dollars and) sense not to happen.
When I asked Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer about Mosley's claim that he is being considered for the fights, he said only, "My full focus in on the Peterson rematch."
I think Mosley is a long shot, at best, to face Khan. Besides, it remains to be seen if HBO or Showtime would be interested in either bout. But I'll say this: As disgusted as I was with Mosley's performance against Pacquiao -- and it was a fight I killed even before it took place, and wound up playing out even worse than I had predicted -- I think Mosley, even at this stage of his career, would be Alvarez's toughest opponent so far. Alvarez has been very protected.
"I'm better than anyone Canelo [has] fought," Mosley said. "By all means, put me in with him and let me knock him out. To me, Canelo is a warm-up for me to another fight. We can definitely do that."
The last time we saw Mosley, he was knocked down in the third round and lost a shutout decision to Manny Pacquiao in their massively hyped -- and even more disappointing -- welterweight title bout last May.
Since then, Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) has kept a low profile. But now he says he is ready to return, that he is healthy and that his manager, James Prince, and attorney, Josh Dubin, have been approached by Golden Boy -- the fighter's former promoter before their falling out prior to rival Top Rank signing Mosley for the Pacquiao fight -- to gauge his interest in two potential bouts.
I talked to Mosley the other day, and he said he was asked a couple of weeks ago about his interest in a fight with junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who holds one of Mosley's old belts. In recent days, Mosley said, he was asked about his interest in facing former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan.
"They offered me a fight with Canelo and I was like, 'Yeah, I'll take it,'" Mosley said. "Then they came back to me and said, 'What about Amir Khan?'"
Mosley said that fight was also of interest to him, although not at the weight that was suggested: 145 pounds.
Khan, who lost his two junior welterweight belts to Lamont Peterson in controversial fashion on Dec. 10, wants a rematch first and foremost. But Golden Boy knows there are issues there and is looking ahead because Khan had talked before the Peterson fight about moving up anyway.
"I said, 'No way at 145.' I might do it if it was at 147. I was thinking 149 or 150," Mosley said. "It's possible, but I would want to be sure everything is right. It's interesting, but it depends on the setting, the weight, what type of money."
Of the two names brought to Mosley's attention, he said he prefers Alvarez, who has been mentioned prominently as a potential May 5 opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who soundly outpointed Mosley in May 2010.
With Mayweather and Pacquiao trying to finalize opponents, because it seems very doubtful they will fight each other next, everyone else in the hunt is jockeying for position, including Mosley.
"I haven't fought in a while and would have to make weight properly if I was going to fight Khan," Mosley said, adding that he weighed about 168 when we spoke a few days ago. "Now that I am healed properly, I can get back to work again."
Mosley said he injured the Achilles tendon in his left foot several weeks before the Pacquiao fight and that it hindered him badly in the fight. He said he had issues with his other leg also. The injuries have taken some time to heal, but he said he would be ready for a fight in the spring, which is when Alvarez and Khan are both expected back in action.
"I wanted to take some time off and heal properly," Mosley said. "I'm feeling a lot better and ready to go. I'm not hurt. If Golden Boy is willing to put their guy, Canelo or Amir, up to fight me, so be it. I'm excited to get back in the ring. I want to prove to everybody what happens when I am 100 percent."
I don't see the Khan fight happening and remain hopeful a rematch with Peterson will come to fruition. It makes too much (dollars and) sense not to happen.
When I asked Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer about Mosley's claim that he is being considered for the fights, he said only, "My full focus in on the Peterson rematch."
I think Mosley is a long shot, at best, to face Khan. Besides, it remains to be seen if HBO or Showtime would be interested in either bout. But I'll say this: As disgusted as I was with Mosley's performance against Pacquiao -- and it was a fight I killed even before it took place, and wound up playing out even worse than I had predicted -- I think Mosley, even at this stage of his career, would be Alvarez's toughest opponent so far. Alvarez has been very protected.
"I'm better than anyone Canelo [has] fought," Mosley said. "By all means, put me in with him and let me knock him out. To me, Canelo is a warm-up for me to another fight. We can definitely do that."
The news Tuesday night that Golden Boy Promotions and Amir Khan had dropped their appeal to the IBF, which they hoped would order an immediate rematch between Khan and new unified junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson, came as a surprise -- especially given how hard Khan protested the decision of their controversial Dec. 10 fight in Peterson's hometown of Washington, D.C., and that the hearing was less than 24 hours away when they dropped the case.
So although the IBF won't order a direct rematch -- the WBA already has, which the Peterson camp is vigorously protesting because it made the order without any kind of due process -- the sides are talking rematch, and Khan, who brings the bulk of the cash because of his TV deals, is willing to split profits 50-50. It's a deal that makes sense, so it seems that the big bone of contention, if they agree to fight, will be where the rematch will take place. Khan surely won't want to return to Washington, the so-called scene of the crime. But financially, D.C. -- specifically the city's main arena, Verizon Center -- makes the most sense.
So we'll see what happens there. I think we will ultimately see the rematch, probably in April. The one thing that could change that would be the unlikely event of Manny Pacquiao selecting Peterson as his next opponent. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has named Peterson among the possible opponents on the short list, but I see him as a long shot to actually get the fight.
In the wake of Khan's dropping his appeal with the IBF, Peterson and his manager, trainer and father figure, Barry Hunter, released statements about the situation on Wednesday. Here was Peterson's:
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the fans for all the positive things that I've read over the Internet and messages received via Twitter. I truly did not know how much support I had all over the world. Now that this is over I am ready to move on. As I said before, as champion I plan on representing both sanctioning bodies to the best of [my] ability and that means fighting the best fighters in the world in defending my titles."
Said Hunter:
"We are extremely pleased that Golden Boy and Amir Khan withdrew their protest with the IBF. As we have said all along, we were not going to be forced to make a decision by one person or entity and we will continue to do what is in the best interest of Lamont Peterson. The Peterson team continuously responded to each of Khan's accusations and the absurdity of the claims. Our reply addressed the rules and also Khan's inability to make adjustments and his performance in the ring, as opposed to placing blame on almost everyone associated with the bout.
"We have an open mind and look forward to Lamont's first title defense. We will discuss internally and assess every viable opportunity available. We will then make the best decision possible for the future of Lamont and his family."
• I get asked a lot about what referees and judges are paid for working world title bouts, and the paperwork related to Khan's appeal gave us a glimpse by making public what the officials were paid to work the December fight. Referee Joe Cooper, whose handling of the bout was at the center of the controversy because of the two points he docked from Khan for unheard-of pushing fouls (which cost Khan the fight), made $2,800 for his night of work. The three judges, George Hill, Valerie Dorsett (who both scored 113-112 for Peterson) and Nelson Vasquez (who had it 115-110 for Khan) made $2,000 apiece.
So although the IBF won't order a direct rematch -- the WBA already has, which the Peterson camp is vigorously protesting because it made the order without any kind of due process -- the sides are talking rematch, and Khan, who brings the bulk of the cash because of his TV deals, is willing to split profits 50-50. It's a deal that makes sense, so it seems that the big bone of contention, if they agree to fight, will be where the rematch will take place. Khan surely won't want to return to Washington, the so-called scene of the crime. But financially, D.C. -- specifically the city's main arena, Verizon Center -- makes the most sense.
So we'll see what happens there. I think we will ultimately see the rematch, probably in April. The one thing that could change that would be the unlikely event of Manny Pacquiao selecting Peterson as his next opponent. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has named Peterson among the possible opponents on the short list, but I see him as a long shot to actually get the fight.
In the wake of Khan's dropping his appeal with the IBF, Peterson and his manager, trainer and father figure, Barry Hunter, released statements about the situation on Wednesday. Here was Peterson's:
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the fans for all the positive things that I've read over the Internet and messages received via Twitter. I truly did not know how much support I had all over the world. Now that this is over I am ready to move on. As I said before, as champion I plan on representing both sanctioning bodies to the best of [my] ability and that means fighting the best fighters in the world in defending my titles."
Said Hunter:
"We are extremely pleased that Golden Boy and Amir Khan withdrew their protest with the IBF. As we have said all along, we were not going to be forced to make a decision by one person or entity and we will continue to do what is in the best interest of Lamont Peterson. The Peterson team continuously responded to each of Khan's accusations and the absurdity of the claims. Our reply addressed the rules and also Khan's inability to make adjustments and his performance in the ring, as opposed to placing blame on almost everyone associated with the bout.
"We have an open mind and look forward to Lamont's first title defense. We will discuss internally and assess every viable opportunity available. We will then make the best decision possible for the future of Lamont and his family."
• I get asked a lot about what referees and judges are paid for working world title bouts, and the paperwork related to Khan's appeal gave us a glimpse by making public what the officials were paid to work the December fight. Referee Joe Cooper, whose handling of the bout was at the center of the controversy because of the two points he docked from Khan for unheard-of pushing fouls (which cost Khan the fight), made $2,800 for his night of work. The three judges, George Hill, Valerie Dorsett (who both scored 113-112 for Peterson) and Nelson Vasquez (who had it 115-110 for Khan) made $2,000 apiece.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Rafael
Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer. Rafael began writing for ESPN.com in March 2005 after working for five years as the boxing writer for USA Today. He can be reached on Twitter at danrafaelespn.